The U.S.S. Gerald Ford is one of the most advanced aircraft carriers in the world, but it has one basic problem that it can’t seem to solve.
When the world’s largest aircraft carrier was first undergoing sea trials, its advanced Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) struggled, which is understandable since it was a new and advanced system for aircraft carriers. Plumbing, on the other hand, the United States Navy has had a handle on for a good while. Until now, it seems. While the USS Gerald R. Ford has been launching fighter jets to assist with operations in the Caribbean, it has been suffering a series of mishaps with its toilet.
The carrier has a crew of 4,600, which is a lot of individuals in one place not to have a working plumbing system. NPR submitted a FOIA request and received documents that showed the crew has been trying to manage this issue since 2023.
